STATEMENTS BY SENATORS
Senator ASKEW (Tasmania—Chief Opposition Whip in the Senate) (13:35): My hometown of Launceston certainly has its fair share of culinary delights. In 2021 the city of Launceston was named a UNESCO city of gastronomy. I am sure there are many here who have attended our iconic three-day food festival, Festivale, which brings together a wide range of producers to City Park in central Launceston.
On a more local scale, Launceston also boasts the popular weekly growers and makers market, Harvest Market, in the city. It regularly hosts World Street Eats in nearby Civic Square, which offers a variety of international foods, reflecting our community's growing multiculturalism. But bubbling under the surface of the UNESCO city of gastronomy application was the promise of something new to Tasmania, FermentHQ, a fermentation hub that underpins the local startup culture, bringing together small entrepreneurs who want to make things like sourdough, kimchi, yoghurt and kombucha, just to name a few, in a collaborative environment with all the tools needed for fermentation.
FermentHQ was first conceptualised in 2016, and on 2 August this year the building was officially opened in Legana's industrial precinct. The brainchild of dynamic local businesswoman and restaurateur Kim Seagram, FermentHQ is a labour of love that will bring together food innovators, small producers, entrepreneurs and lovers of fermented food. This exciting global-first facility will have a future of cutting-edge research and development, hands-on training and the potential for agritourism adventures.
It provides a space where innovators can test and produce their products in a collaborative way, engaging with others and leasing small offices to assist in the development of their products. The former federal member for Bass, Bridget Archer, secured funding of $7½ million for this critical project under the Building Better Regions Fund. As a proud supporter of this concept since its first announcement, I congratulate Kim and everyone instrumental in bringing FermentHQ to life.
I can't wait to see the fermentation industry build and thrive in Tasmania— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Polley ): Thank you for highlighting the success of Tasmanians leading the way.